I'll give you Italy. They are heading back to Division I next year, but I think France could probably outplay the Kazakhs. Granted, all three of these teams are going to the relegation round, along with (surprisingly) the US or Finland. US/Finland isn't going to be relegated (at least I would think so), and France has been on an upswing the last few years, even without Huet. That only leaves the two newly promoted teams.

Until looking at their roster I didn't realize that Shafranov is still playing in North America at 41 (in the IHL). Also interesting to note that two other players from Kazakhstan, Puskarev and Kuznetzov were high round draft picks.